
In February 2024 we spent a bit over a week in Tbilisi and we’re so grateful we got to visit the gorgeous Georgian capital! Since then, we’ve been raving about this place and recommending it to our friends and relatives to visit it as well.
If you’re still wondering whether Tbilisi is worth visiting or not, this article might help you make up your mind.
Is Tbilisi worth visiting?
After spending more than a week here, I can say that Tbisili is absolutely worth visiting. The Georgian capital is unique in many aspects – the food, the wines, the architecture, the people… It cannot be described, you just need to experience it.
We were left with such good impressions and wonderful memories, that we cannot wait to be back and see some more of Georgia. But first stop if you’re coming here – Tbilisi!
Don’t just take my word for it. Here are some reasons that made us fall in love with this city and will convince you to visit it as well!
Reasons to visit Tbilisi, Georgia
1. Visit Tbilisi to admire its gorgeous architectural gems


Coming to a post-soviet country, I expected a lot of the buildings to be these typical plain soviet apartment blocks that you can see in the movie EuroTrip. Well, they do have those in the outer neighborhoods, but the city centre and the old town have this wonderful mix of styles with countless gorgeous buildings.
Since Georgia is literally on the crossroad between Europe and Asia, this has reflected on the architectural style as well. It’s not only a good mix of styles, but also of the old and the new. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen!
This juxtaposition between the architectural styles makes for unusual sights – no matter which style you prefer. You can see wonderful Art Nuveau buildings with some Persian elements, as well as some very impressive Soviet-style architectural gems.
Just make sure you look up whenever you’re walking around – some streets in the city center can be quite narrow, making it difficult to notice the gorgeous buildings!
There are some amazing day trips from Tbilisi. Check them out!
2. Visit Tbilisi to learn about its rich history

Located on the Silk Road, Tbilisi is inevitably a city with a very rich history. Tbilisi, once known as Tiflis and sometimes mispronounced as Tiblisi, is Georgia’s capital and largest city.
Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it has historically been a coveted prize for rival empires, thanks to its strategic location along east-west trade routes.
Tbilisi’s architectural landscape mirrors its diverse past, showcasing a blend of medieval, classical, Middle Eastern, Art Nouveau, Stalinist, and Modernist styles.
3. Visit Tbilisi to try the unbeatable Georgian wine

Georgians are so proud of their wines. During one of our day trips outside of Tbilisi, we literally came across a local who just started talking to us about Georgia’s winemaking history. And at least a few people told us the same several facts: Georgia’s winemaking dates back to more than 8000 years ago; and Georgia is home to more than 500 varieties of indigenous grapes – more than France and Italy!
I had never previously tried Georgian wine, and I’m not the biggest wine fan anyways, but I have to admit – they have some damn good wines!
The traditional Georgian winemaking technique (qvevri) is unique and only allows them to create little at a time – one of the reasons why they’re not exporting much wine abroad.


The Qvevri, an egg-shaped clay vessel, is used for making, aging, and storing wine. The process involves pressing grapes, then fermenting the juice including all parts of the grapes like skins. The qvevri then stays buried in the ground for up to six months.
We got to try some unique wines, that we had never tasted before! Even brought home a few bottles as gifts – Georgian wines are definitely something worth trying!
4. Visit Tbilisi to relax at the traditional Sulfur Baths

Experiencing a traditional Sulfur bath was one of the things I was most excited about when planning our trip to Tbilisi.
It’s no coincidence that there are so many baths in Tbilisi – hot springs run beneath the earth, and this actually gave the city its name, which means “warm place”.
Going to a sulfur bath in Tbilisi is a must-do, in my personal opinion.
The best and most recommended baths in Tbilisi are Chreli-Abano, Gulo’s Thermal Spa and No. 5 Sulfur Bathhouse. From what I saw, the first two options offer private rooms only, while Bath No. 5 is the best public bath you can find in Tbilisi.
Since we were a group of 5, we booked a private room at Chreli-Abano – the most famous Sulfur bath in Tbilisi (and most pricey one, though when you’re more people, it’s not that bad at all!).

You’re able to book directly from their website, and you can even pick which room you’d like to have. There are photos and descriptions to help you with this choice.
Be careful when booking – not all rooms have a cold pool and a sauna in addition to the mandatory hot pool. We chose Room N. 4 as it had all of the amenities and it looked super beautiful!
You can also choose whether you want to do the kisa – a traditional scrubbing where your skin pretty much is scrubbed so much that it becomes like a baby’s bottom. Well, I might have exaggerated a bit – the scrubbing did not feel harsh at all and even people with sensitive skin from our group opted for it. But your skin really does get super soft.
The scrubbing only lasts for a few minutes and then you’re washed with soap and give a bit of a massage.
If you’re a group of 4 people or more, keep in mind that 1 hour might not be enough for all of you to get a kisa. I feel like 1 hour went by too fast anyways, and I wish I had booked for 2! But don’t overdo it either – it’s not recommended to stay in the sulfur baths too long.
5. Visit Tbilisi to taste the delicious Georgian cuisine


Oh, the food… Georgian cuisine is something different. It has a distinct character, as it has been influenced by and has some similarities with various national cuisines of the Caucasus, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
If I had to describe the food here, I’d say bold flavors, aromatic spices, and hearty dishes.
Make sure to try the khinkali (dumplings with different fillings), khachapuri (traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread), khachapuri adjaruli (a boat made out of dough, filled with melted cheeses and an egg on top – our favorite!), Shkmeruli (chicken with garlic sauce) and lobio (a red bean stew).

Every dish that we tried was undescribably delicious and I believe Georgian is one of my favourite cuisines from everything I’ve tried!
Don’t forget to buy some churchkhela for you and to bring home as a gift. These are the most traditional Georgian sweets and it’s made out of nuts, covered with thick grape juice (or other fruits as well). They sell them in many places, including supermarkets. So yum!
Check out this wonderful Small-Group Khinkali and Khachapuri Cooking Class in Tbilisi
6. Visit Tbilisi to see some of the most beautiful residential building entrances


I mentioned that Tbilisi is full of stunning buildings. But I’m sure you wouldn’t expect them to be as beautiful on the inside. Because residential buildings are usually not that impressive as you walk in.
We went on an organised walk around the bourgeoisie neighbourhood (which is a very new tour offered in Tbilisi, as the organiser mentioned), and we got to go into some of the most beautiful residential building entrances.
The buildings might be beautiful on the outside, but some of them are even more beautiful on the inside! And I’d never expected them to be like this, let alone decide to walk in.
I strongly recommend discovering these hidden gems on a tour for a few reasons – you’ll learn a lot of legends and stories about them from a local, and this is also a more respectful way of entering residential buildings, as opposed to just walking in on your own and walking up to people’s apartments.
Check the bourgeoisie neighbourhood tour and rates here.
7. Visit Tbilisi to experience the hospitality of the locals
Georgians are among the warmest people in the world, or at least among the ones I’ve met! Our guide literally told us that they don’t call foreign visitors ‘tourists’. They call us ‘guests’. You’re literally a guest at their home. And this changes the perspective so much!
They try to cater to you and make you feel welcome in any way possible. And I feel like this is so important to have a good impression of a country. So don’t be afraid to talk to locals – get to know their story, what their life is like, and what they love about Tbilisi.
8. Visit Tbilisi for its friendly stray dogs

Not only are the local people friendly, but so are the local dogs! And there are A LOT of stray dogs around the streets.
Coming from Bulgaria, this is not a new sight – we have stray dogs roaming around everywhere because this issue is still not regulated. Apparently, they have the same situation in Georgia, but I noticed the dogs here are exceptionally friendly!


It might be because locals take good care of them – they’re being fed, they’re being taken to the vet if needed, and they seem very happy. I’m personally allergic to dogs, but on a few occasions I couldn’t stop myself from petting them – they’re just soooo precious! I had to quickly wash my hands afterwards, of course…
If you’re a dog lover, you’ll be in heaven in Tbilisi!
9. Visit Tbilisi to experience some of the longest toasts in your life

Around Tbilisi you may come across this statue of a person, sitting in a chair and holding a horn – this is tamada. Or in other words, the toastmaster at a gathering.
This person is the maestro of the event, leading the charge and keeping the party spirit alive. Imagine them as the ultimate toastmaster, orchestrating the gathering known as a supra.
Our first time experiencing the toast of a tamada was during an organised group lunch in the wonderful restaurant Barbarestan in Tbilisi. We were about to get a demonstration of what the tamada usually does.
To put it simply, this toastmaster has to hold a speech for each toast they make, but this isn’t your regular “Thank you for coming, I’m very happy to share this evening with you” type of speech. It’s a heart-felt, at least a few minutes long message of gratitude, and with every toast the tamada thanks for different things, whatever they’re feeling at this particular moment.
So we had probably 10 toasts and our host kept on talking and talking, saying how thankful he is for the land in Georgia, allowing them to grow and make such wonderful wines, for the food on our table, for friends, for his family, for this moment, and so on… You get the jyst.
And there’s one more thing that’s important to mention about the tamada. They don’t just drink from a glass like the rest of the guests. They drink from this typical horn which can be of any size, and they have to drink the whole thing in one go. I personally witnessed one guy drinking about a litre of wine in one go – this horn was something else!
10. Visit Tbilisi now while it’s still a hidden gem

Well, I’m not sure why… but Tbilisi is not a very popular place to visit… yet. I guess the same applies to Georgia, even though it had been on my list for so long.
Don’t wait for too long – word is spreading fast and Tbilisi will get filled with tourists before you know it. The charm of it is that it’s still quite undiscovered, budget-friendly and not overcrowded. And we absolutely loved it!
It deserves way more recognition that it gets and I’m sure it will receive it sooner or later.
So many beautiful and budget-friendly accommodation options. Check them out here.
11. Visit Tbilisi to see its landmarks

Last but not least, you should visit Tbilisi to discover its beautiful landmarks. There’s so much to do in the Georgian capital.
Stroll along the old town, visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, see the Chronicle of Georgia monument (you need to take an Uber to get there), get on the cable car and see the city from above, take a boat trip… these are just some of the must-do’s in Tbilisi.
Is Tbilisi safe?
The only time we felt unsafe in Tbilisi was when we were crossing the roads. Driving here is craaaaazy and pedestrians literally have no rights, even if you’re on a zebra.
There were two of us visiting Tbilisi, so maybe we’re not the best example, but my sister in law spent a few months by herself in Tbilisi. She told me that she never felt unsafe as a solo female, and she even went to some neighborhouds very much outside the center. In her opinion, many European cities are much more dangerous (like Paris, for example).
Final thoughts
After looking into all of the things that made us fall in love with Tbilisi, I hope you also found some reasons for yourself! Are you convinced? We certainly hope so!
If you have any questions about visiting Tbilisi, feel free to leave them in the comments below or message me on social media!